Take Two: Is Penn State's Barkley the No. 1 draft pick?

Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.

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Saquon Barkley is a special player. That’s hardly breaking news.

The Penn State running back has rushed for 518 yards and four touchdowns so far this season, averaging nearly eight yards per carry. He leads the Nittany Lions – and all of the Big Ten in receiving – with 23 catches for 335 yards and he also has two scores that way.

Barkley was fantastic in Penn State’s tough win over Iowa last weekend, as the Nittany Lions staged a last-second comeback.

He could be one of the best backs in recent memory. But is Barkley worth the top pick in the NFL Draft, with such a loaded quarterback draft class, especially since running back hasn’t been a prime position this high? Is the Penn State standout so special that passing on him would be foolish?

“I have absolutely no idea how NFL teams operate or make the decisions they do. Given my limited insight into that world, the most basic element of having special skill position players who go on to be successful is to surround them with above-average personnel at less glamorous positions, specifically along the offensive line.

“Now, if we're just talking about Barkley and the incredible performances he makes look routine week in and week out, the answer is no. I have been doing this since 2006, and in all that time, at Penn State or otherwise, I have never seen a player as uniquely gifted, incredibly hard-working, and constantly improving as this kid. He was exceptional last year and worked so tirelessly through the offseason that even the minor flaws in his game have transformed into strengths this year, particularly as a receiver out of the backfield. I've been witness to some remarkable individual players through the years, but none have come close to Barkley, and I don't anticipate I'll see many more like him in years to come.” - Bauer

“He’s a better receiver than Ezekiel Elliott or Leonard Fournette. He’s stronger than both of those guys. He runs with better leverage than both of those guys. With that being said I would never in a million years pick a running back No. 1 overall.

“Those guys both went fourth. He could go top four. He’s going to go to a team that has a quarterback and needs a running back. If you’re looking at the Jets, they need a quarterback and it’s a pretty good quarterback draft year. He’ll be the first running back off the board but that means probably a top four or five pick.” - Farrell